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Natural Fibers’ Lifecycle

Cycles are loopy, ideally. Not crazy. It’s a system that feeds back into itself. Pick a circular metaphor, that’s it. It’s not necessarily the most efficient in the short-term. But the bet is on the long term. Sustainable for generations to come, and ethical, super ethical because, this loop provides decent conditions for future generations. I introduce the natural fiber lifecycle, not a new idea – far from it. So, it’s not mine, and I have no idea where the concept (not the title, though,) started out.

Synthetic or man-made fibers might have more productive methodologies in the short-term. But there’s basically a one-way line from production to consumption to waste. I mean, look at the landfills and oceans, global catastrophe case in point. The landfills are stocked with synthetic garbage. The oceans have 4.54 trillion pieces of super-small plastics alone. Our recycling isn’t keeping with the level of intake-outtake. And the waste that falls through the massive gap is non-biodegradable, which means it will be around forever. So we are left with a mess. A big one. Like that proverbial chocolate on the white dress shirt or wedding gown. It ain’t comin’ out, except by drastic measure.

Demand in the fashion industry has caused the production for synthetics to increase. Alas, alternatives exist! Natural fibers, on the other hand, are natural thus involving a cycle! Which includes the input, the processing, and the output. Input, involves growing the plant fibers by proper fertilization and watering. For the animal fibers, there’s getting the right food like grain or grass, and water sources, and even the occasional need for open fields for that grazing.

Then comes the processing which involves harvest for the plant fibers and a shearing or de-hairing for the animals’ fibers. It’s a very different set of processes, the outcome, sustainable product which allows cycles to continue! Then comes the fun part! The fashion guru’s get to make some hip, even beautiful, products that are sustainable and have the environment in mind. I’m no pro, but there are many options. And they are pretty fantastic work. I would be fumbling to make these things with my clubs for hands, but take a short look at some of the other bloggers’ stuff from very recent.

And then comes the last part of this cycle, which includes many, many parts. There’s the cutting and composting route with red wiggle worms (Real name!) and a hot composting to help out. This makes fashion bio-degradable. And then there’s the waiting…stage…that…comes…next.

Fertilizer: that’s the final product that’s used in the soil for plant fibers to grow (with some water) and to feed the grazing grounds that grows the grass that the animals eat – camels, alpacas, stuff like that. And that’s the natural fiber life cycle(s)! Which makes fashion for the conscious minded individual more enjoyable!

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About the Author

Scott Douglas Jacobsen researches and presents independent panels, papers, and posters, and with varied research labs and groups, and part-time in landscaping and gardening, and runs In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal.